M111 - Marriage of Satyavathi and Santhanu
Devavratha(Bhishma) after reaching Hastinapura along with Satyavathi, Bhishma narrated the events to his father . Hearing this, King Shantanu was rendered speechless with his admiration for his son. He embraced his son and said, "O Bhishma, You have made such a great sacrifice for the sake of my happiness. As long as this world lasts, your fame shall remain undiminished. I grant you a boon that death shall not be able to approach you, till such a time that you yourself desire to die. Old age shall not slow your limbs, nor confuse your wits. You will be a matchless warrior all your life, watching over the welfare of the Kurus." In return, the King got his son's promise that as long as the Kurus were under a threat, Bhishma would not choose death.
Prince Devavrata thus transformed himself into Bhishma, a man of sacrifice who would devote his entire life to safeguard the rulers of Hasthinapura.
The marriage of Satyavati and Shantanu was duly celebrated. Two sons were born to them, named Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Some time after this, Shantanu passed away. At this time the sons of Satyavati were mere children and therefore, Satyavati ruled as regent in their stead. She was ably assisted by Bhishma in running the kingdom. The kingdom was secure from the assaults of their neighboring kingdoms, as none could match Bhishma in battle, and therefore wisely refrained from attacking the Kurus.
When the elder son Chitrangada came of age, Bhishma installed Chitrangada on the throne. Chitrangada was a man of great prowess. He vanquished many kings. It was widely accepted that Chitrangada could not be vanquished by any human being and that only the Asuras (the demons) and the Gods (the celestials) could only defeat him.. Unfortunately his reign did not last long. He happened to incur the wrath of a Gandharva, who was also named Chitrangada. The Gandharva challenged the young king to battle. They two fought for three years on the banks of the river Saraswathi and in the ensuing duel, King Chitrangada was killed. Satyavathi was heart broken. Since Vichitravirya was too young to understand the intricacies of governance, Bhishma ruled the country under the command of his stepmother Satyavathi.
Prince Devavrata thus transformed himself into Bhishma, a man of sacrifice who would devote his entire life to safeguard the rulers of Hasthinapura.
The marriage of Satyavati and Shantanu was duly celebrated. Two sons were born to them, named Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Some time after this, Shantanu passed away. At this time the sons of Satyavati were mere children and therefore, Satyavati ruled as regent in their stead. She was ably assisted by Bhishma in running the kingdom. The kingdom was secure from the assaults of their neighboring kingdoms, as none could match Bhishma in battle, and therefore wisely refrained from attacking the Kurus.
When the elder son Chitrangada came of age, Bhishma installed Chitrangada on the throne. Chitrangada was a man of great prowess. He vanquished many kings. It was widely accepted that Chitrangada could not be vanquished by any human being and that only the Asuras (the demons) and the Gods (the celestials) could only defeat him.. Unfortunately his reign did not last long. He happened to incur the wrath of a Gandharva, who was also named Chitrangada. The Gandharva challenged the young king to battle. They two fought for three years on the banks of the river Saraswathi and in the ensuing duel, King Chitrangada was killed. Satyavathi was heart broken. Since Vichitravirya was too young to understand the intricacies of governance, Bhishma ruled the country under the command of his stepmother Satyavathi.
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